Get to know Asian honeysuckles

June 10, 2014

Invasive species are non-native plants and animals that cause harm to the environment, economy and even human health. The Adirondack region has an opportunity to prevent invasive species from widely spreading. We need your help to identify invasive species, report sightings and use best management practices to control their spread.

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Who am I?

Article Photos

Asian honeysuckles bloom in the spring and have flowers that are white, yellow, pink or red.(Photo — Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org)

Red berries grow in pairs along the stem in mid-summer.(Photo — Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org)

I am Asian honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and am known by many different names including Amur, Morrow's, Tartanian and Bell's honeysuckle.

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Why am I a problem?

I escape garden plantings and form dense infestations in forests, outcompeting native shrubs and trees. Sunlight can no longer reach the forest floor, reducing the diversity and abundance of native wildflower and fern populations. Forest regeneration also is severely impacted.

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Where did I come from?

I am an ornamental plant originally from China, Korea and Japan, and I was introduced into gardens in North America in the mid-1700s and am still a popular plant.

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What do I look like?

I am a deciduous shrub with greyish, shaggy bark and opposite, egg shaped leaves. My fragrant flowers bloom in the spring and may be white, yellow, pink or red and are followed by red or orange-red berries in mid-summer. I grow to be 15 feet high.

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Where do I live?

I live in forests, abandoned fields, open woodlands and along roadsides and forest edges. I also tolerate wet soils and invade places such as bogs, fens and lake shores.

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How do I spread?

I spread mainly by seed but some vegetative re-sprouting can occur. Mature plants produce thousands of berries as fruit, and each fruit contains two to six seeds. Seeds are mostly dispersed by birds that eat the berries. Even though birds may feel full, my berries provide little to no nutritional value.

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How do you get rid of me?

Any time of year when the ground is soft, especially after a rain, hand- pull small plants by the base of the stem. Be sure to pull up the entire root system. Hang from a branch to prevent re-rooting. For larger plants, use a weed wrench. Continue to monitor the area every year for new seedlings.

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Who looks like me?

All of the invasive honeysuckle species found in the Adirondacks have a hollow stem. Native honeysuckle has a solid stem and is not typically as robust of a shrub as the invasives.

For more information, log onto www.adkinvasives.com or contact the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program at 518-576-2082.

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Eye on Invasives is a seasonal, biweekly column that spotlights a top invader when it is easiest to identify. Hilary Smith directs the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program, a partnership program housed at the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy in Keene Valley. Find out more about this award-winning program online at www.adkinvasives.com.